A NEW campaign is calling on local volunteers to help improve sound experiences for hearing aid users.

National organisation Hearing Link is working with Stroud Rotary club to promote the Let’s Hear Stroud campaign.

Volunteers are being asked to help and check hearing loop systems in businesses, shops and public buildings in and around Stroud.

The loops are a special type of sound system for use by people with hearing aids, and they work by cutting out background noise and mitigating the effect of distance between the listener and the talker.

You do not need to be a wearer of hearing aids as special equipment will be used to test the loops to ensure they are working correctly.

Unfortunately, many of these systems are missing and don’t work properly. 

The campaign also looks to improve knowledge about hearing loops, so staff understand the needs of hearing aid users and provide services accessible to them.

Loop checker volunteers, working with Stroud Rotary Club, will visit public buildings and businesses to check the availability and quality of assistive listening systems.

The aim is to improve the effectiveness of these systems so that hearing aid users can feel more confident to participate in the community.

Martyn Harwood, a member of Stroud Rotary Club, urged volunteers to get involved.

“The campaign will help many people with hearing loss,” he said.

“We need volunteers to help with the loop checking to make this project a success.”

Gary Coward, Let’s Hear Project Manager with Hearing Link, said: “The Let’s Hear project has already made a significant impact on the hearing experience for hard of hearing people in other communities and with your help we can do the same in Stroud.”

If you would like to help volunteer, contact Martyn Harwood on martynharwood@stroudrotary.org.uk or go to www.stroudrotary.org.uk.